For Wycliffe Olumi, life will never be the same again. What began as an ordinary evening in Madoya, Huruma, ended in screams, smoke, and loss.
He had stepped out briefly when he heard terrified shouts coming from the direction of his home. Within moments, the air was filled with chaos — people running, flames spreading fast, and cries for help echoing through the night.
“I heard my daughter crying on the phone,” he said. “She told me our house was on fire, and my wife was still inside.”
Those were the last words he heard from her.
🔥 The Huruma Inferno
The fire, believed to have been caused by a gas cylinder explosion, tore through the tightly packed iron-sheet houses of the Madoya slums. There was no space, no time — the flames moved faster than anyone could react.
Neighbours tried to help with buckets of water, but the blaze was too strong. Wycliffe rushed back only to find his home completely engulfed.
By the time firefighters managed to contain the fire, it was too late. His wife had perished in the flames. His young daughter was rescued but later died while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“I lost everything,” Wycliffe said. “My wife, my child, my home — all gone in a single night.”
💔 A Father’s Grief and a City’s Silence
In the days that followed, Wycliffe sat among the ashes of what used to be his home. Around him, other survivors wept, some nursing burns, others searching for loved ones.
He remembers the firefighters arriving late, the roads too narrow for trucks, the water running out too soon. For many residents, the tragedy felt preventable — another sign of neglect toward Nairobi’s informal settlements.
“If help had come sooner, maybe they would still be alive,” he said quietly.
🕊️ The Road to Healing
Wycliffe now faces the daunting task of rebuilding from nothing.
His neighbours have offered food and temporary shelter, while well-wishers and church groups are providing basic necessities. But the pain is something only time — and faith — can touch.
Despite the heartbreak, Wycliffe is grateful to be alive. He says his only wish is that no other family has to endure what his did.
“I will never forget that night,” he said. “But I have to stay strong — for those who didn’t make it.”
⚠️ A Wake-Up Call for Kenya
The Huruma fire has reignited debate over safety in informal settlements, where families live dangerously close to gas cylinders, faulty wiring, and flammable structures.
Residents are urging authorities to enforce safety regulations and improve emergency response to prevent another tragedy.
Until then, people like Wycliffe live with fear — and memories that will never fade.
